Lock for vehicle doors



Oct. 23, 1951 FULLER LOCK. FOR VEHICLE DOORS Filed April 12, 1949INVENTOR. fl 11m e2, Fu 2 Z 6 r ATTIJ RNEYS Patented Oct. 23, 1 951oi-"Flea LOCK FOR VEHICLE DOORS Aimel Fuller, Hawthorne, Calif.

, Application April 12, 1949, Serial No. 86,905

" This invention relates to vehicles, and more particularly to a lockfor vehicle doors.

The object of .the invention is to provide a 2 Claims. (Cl. 292-45) lockwhich will prevent automobile doors from being accidentally opened.Another object of the invention is to provide an automobile lockmechanism which will ensure that the vehicle doors remain locked whilethe vehicle is in motion to thereby prevent passengers fromaccidentallyfalling out of the vehicle and for preventing anyone fromsurreptitiously entering the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vehicle door lockwhich is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other Objects and advantages will become apparent during thecourse ofthe following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are used to designatelike parts throughout the Same:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a vehicle with partsbroken-away and in section and showing the locking mechanism in p sitinstheve icle.a ordin to the p ent invention; -i.

' Figure 2 is a. side .elevational view of the door lock; H

.Figure 3 is a..sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figural; o

Figure l-is a sectional view taken on the iine 44 of Figure '7;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the position of theparts of the device when the lock is in operation;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the back plate;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 5; and

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line Ill-l0 ofFigure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral |0 designates a portionof a vehicle, Figure 1. and the vehicle includes a door post I and apair'of doors I2 and I3 which are hingedly connected to the vehicle inthe usual manner. The present invention is directed f to a lockingmechanisniior preventing the doors l2 and Hi from being accidentallyopened, as when the vehicle is in motion, so that occupants thereoi.will not accidentally fall out of vthe moving ve; hicle. f v

The locking mechanism comprises a pair of spaced parallel plates l4 andI5 which may be fabricated of anysuitable material.v The plates aresecured together by suitable securing elements such as rivets l6, andthe plates In and.

I5 are positioned in the door post II and sup ported by the latter. Thedoor post H, is provided with a pair of opposed openings or apertures I1and I8, Figures 1 and 10. The door I2 is provided with an opening l9which registers with the opening I I when the door I2 is in closedposition. Similarly the door I3 is provided with an opening 20 whichregisters with the aperture 8 in the opposite side ofthe door post whenthe door I3 is in closed position. A pair of arms2| and 2| arepositioned between the plates l4 and I5, andthe arms 2| and 2 l are eachpivotallyconnected to the plates by H p 2 Th a is ad a ore .1w, n o t oia em tw thih registering ver: tures I1 and I9 to prevent accidentalopening of the door |2 while the arm 2| likewise adapted 9 e m ve nt and0i en m n i h t e. i er n er u s. l n 20 mta n the door, l3 loclredatthesame time.' For causing pivotal movement of the arms 2| and 2|, plunger24 is provided. The plunger 24, which may have its top recessed, isslidably positioned between the plates l4 and I5 and the plunger 24 iscut away to define a first pair of inclined shoulders 25 and 25', andarranged therebelow is a second pair of inclined shoulders 28 and 26 fora purpose to be later described. Each of the arms 2| and 2| is shaped todefine a lip 28.

The plates 4 and I5 are each provided with a pair of spacedlongitudinally extending grooves 29 and 30 which coact when the platesare assembled to define chambers for receiving therein coil springs 3|.Each of the coil springs 3| are arranged in engagement with a projection32,

there being a pair of the projections 32 extending from the lower end ofthe plunger 24. The springs 3| normally urge the plunger 24 upwardlyinto engagement with the lips 28 01. the arms 2| and 2| to therebynormally permit the arms to swing out of engagement with thel'egisteringopenings in the door post and doors to the position shown in Figure 3. Apair of spacer members 32Vproject from the plate I! for maintaining theplates l4 and IS in proper spaced relation. v Arranged between theplates I4 and II an secured to the plate I is a pair of L-shaped supportmembers 34 and 34' which are adapted to be engaged by the lower end ofthe plunger 24 and the stem 35 is slidably arranged between the members34 and 34', The lower end of the stem 35 is provided with an aperture 3'for receiving an end of an actuating cable 31, Figure 1. The other endof the cable 3": is connected to a lever 38 which is pivotally connectedto the vehicle as-at' 40';

For causing pivotal movement to the lever 38, a link 4| has one of itsends connected to the other end of the lever 38, and the other end ofthe link 4! is connected to a coupling 42; A 0011. spring 43 has itsends connected to the coupling 42 and vehicle body respectively, and forcausing movement of the coupling 42,.a cable 44 has. one end connectedto the coupling 42. The other end 01' the cable 44 is connected to ahand or entergency brake 45 which is pivotally supported within thevehicleby abracket 46. In operation, when the vehicle is not moving, theemergency brake 45 is pulled backwardly to thereby move the coupling 42forwardly. This permits the springs 3t to bias the plunger 24- upwardlywhereby the arms 21 and 2!" will bepivoted out of engagement with theregistering openings in the door post and doors so that the doors may befreely and readily opened as desired. When the vehicle is in motion, thebrake 45 is pivoted forwardly whereby the spring 43 mov es the coupling42. rearwardl'y, and this causes a counterclockwise pivotal movement ofthe lever 38. This movement of the lever 38 causes the cable 31 to pullthe plunger 24 downwardly so that-its shoulders 25- and 25' cause thearms 2| and 22 to move into engagement with the registering openings inthe door and door post, as long as thecar is in motion it will beimpossible for a passenger therein to accidentally open the doors andfall out which would result in serious injury. Further this construction precludes the possibility of anyone surreptitiously gaining accessto the car while the car is inv motion, While I have shown anddescribed.a preferred of my invention, this is by way of illustrationonly and I.consider as: my own all such. modifications in construction as fairlyfall within the scope-o1- the appended claims.

iclaimz. L In a lockingmechanism,. a pair of spaced parallel: platessecured together, a pair of arms 4 positioned between said plates andeach pivotally connected thereto, a plunger slidably positioned betweensaid plates for causing pivotal movement of said arms, said plungerbeing cut away to define a first pair of inclined shoulders, and asecond pair of inclined shoulders arranged below said first pair ofshoulders, said plates being each provided with a pair of spacedlongitudinally extending grooves, coil springs seated in said. grooves,a pair of projecticnsextendmg from the lower end of said plunger forengaging said coil springs, a pair of spacer members projecting from oneof said plates for maintaining the plates in proper spaced relation, anda pair of L-shaped' support members arranged between said. plates. andadapted to be engaged by the lower end of the plunger.

2. In a locking mechanism, a pair of spaced parallek plates securedtogether, a pair of arms positioned between said plates and eachpivotal-ly connected thereto, a plunger slidably positioned between.saidv plates. for causing pivotal movement of said arms,.said plungerbeing: cut away to define a first pair of inclinedv shoulders, and asecond pair of inclined shoulders arranged below said first pair ofshoulders. said plates being. each provided with a. pair of spacedlongitudinally extending grooves, coil. springs seated in said grooves,a pair of projections extending from the lower end of said" plunger forengaging said coil springs, a pair of spacer members projecting from oneof said plates for maintaining the plates in proper spaced relation,. apair of L-shaped support members arranged between said plates andadapted to be engaged by the lower end of the plungenand a stem slidablyarranged between said pair of support members and secured to saidplunger.

AHVIEL FULLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date- 'l,995,889 Landry Mar. 26; 19352,074,449 Ziomek Man 23, 1937 2,096,980 Schjolin Oct. 26, 1937 2,218,435Aelschig Oct. 15, 1940 2,219,132 I-l'ohma'nn et al'. Oct. 22, 19402,250,014 Fitzgerald July 22, 1941. 2,254,419 Castle Sept 2-, 1941

